Non-power-driven Photometer with Multiple Narrow-angle Probes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sun photometers installed on aircraft face challenges with prolonged measurement times and errors due to changes in aircraft position and motor-driven scanning, which affect the accuracy of light intensity and distribution measurements across different azimuthal angles.
Innovation Solution
A non-power driven photometer with multiple narrow-angle probes that receive and detect light from various ranges of individual azimuthal angles, allowing for simultaneous and accurate measurement of light intensity without motor operation, even when the aircraft is tilted, by using a dome-shaped body with uniformly spaced probes and a wide-angle probe for comprehensive sky scanning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If motor-driven sky scanning is used to measure light distribution across different azimuthal angles, then comprehensive atmospheric data can be collected, but measurement time increases and errors occur due to aircraft movement and position changes
Solution Approach 1:
The sky dome is segmented into multiple fixed探测 angles (e.g., 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°, 225°, 270°, 315°) with dedicated photodetectors at each segment. This allows simultaneous measurement of light intensity at all azimuthal angles without mechanical scanning, resolving the contradiction between comprehensive data collection and measurement time
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from temporal scanning (one angle at a time over time) to spatial parallelism (multiple angles simultaneously). By arranging photodetectors at different spatial positions around the sky dome, all azimuthal angles are measured concurrently, eliminating the time penalty of sequential scanning
2Adaptability or versatility
If motor rotation is used to change probe angles for sun tracking, then sun position data can be obtained, but calibration is required due to motor rotation and aircraft movement
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts to aircraft attitude changes by using a sky dome model that accounts for the aircraft's roll, pitch, and yaw angles. The fixed photodetectors measure light from predetermined azimuthal angles relative to the aircraft body, and the system calculates atmospheric parameters by referencing the dynamic sky dome geometry, eliminating the need for mechanical calibration
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical motor-driven tracking system with a fixed optical array combined with computational processing. Instead of physically rotating probes to track the sun, the system uses multiple fixed photodetectors that simultaneously capture light from different azimuthal angles, with the sun's position determined through data processing rather than mechanical movement
3Productivity
If fixed narrow-angle probes are used instead of motor-driven scanning, then measurement time is reduced and accuracy is improved, but the ability to track moving sun position is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The sky dome model is pre-calculated with geometric relationships between the aircraft body and the sky coordinate system. This preliminary preparation allows the fixed photodetectors to immediately measure light intensity at predetermined azimuthal angles without requiring real-time mechanical adjustment, enabling both fast measurement and sun position determination through data processing
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables rapid and accurate measurement of light intensity and atmospheric characteristics across the entire sky, reducing errors and maintaining measurement accuracy even when the aircraft is not in a horizontal position, by utilizing fixed, power-free probes that cover both hemispheres.
Implementation Method 1
multiple narrow-angle probes receive lights entering from different ranges of individual azimuthal angles through atmosphere
Data Source
AI summary
A non-power-driven photometer is provided, the photometer comprising: a body; and multiple narrow angle photoreceivers (narrow angle probes) formed in the body, wherein the multiple narrow angle probes receive light in the atmosphere, which is incident over a range of different azimuth angles, and allow the characteristics of the atmosphere to be analyzed with reference to the relationship between the received light and the azimuth angle of the narrow angle probe corresponding to the received light. According to the present invention, since the photometer is driven without being supplied with power, light intensity measurement can be performed in a short time. Further, since light intensity measurement can be performed with no movement or only a short-distance movement of a vehicle or airplane equipped with the photometer, the problem of errors caused by differences in the time and location of measurement can be prevented.